Election in tribal districts: ECP takes notice of violation of code of conduct

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notice to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan due to violation of code of conduct ahead of the elections in tribal districts and sought reply from him in this regard. The ECP took notice of distribution of interest free loan among the residents of tribal districts by the KP chief minister. The CM had distributed certificates regarding interest free loan among the tribesmen at the chief minister house.
The ECP had issued notice to chief minister for launch of Insaf Rozgar Scheme in tribal districts. The elections in tribal districts for 16 seats will be held on July. The notice sent to the chief minister's principal secretary by the KP Provincial Election Commissioner (K-PECP) deputy director Naveedur Rehman, reads, "The Election Commission of Pakistan has imposed a ban on all developmental schemes in constituencies where the election is under process till the culmination of the election process. Furthermore, it said that the Commission has issued a code of conduct."
The Election commission said distribution of forms of the scheme would influence over the polling process. It said despite the ban on all kind of development projects, the Chief Minister Mahmood Khan distributed forms of the Insaf Rozgar Scheme. The letter warned that the interest free loan distribution ceremony arranged at the Chief Minister Secretariat is a violation of the above instructions and code of conduct issued by the Election Commission.
Besides, the Election commission said the ban on posting and transfers of government officials, no government functionary or elected representative including a local government functionary has been allowed to announce any development scheme for the constituencies, where the election is under is scheduled on July 20. The ECP has sought reply from chief minister in this regard. The action would be taken against the violation of code of conduct, the ECP said.
Earlier, the ECP has so far issued show cause notices to Prime Minister Imran Khan, KP Tourism Minister Atif Khan and MNA from Khyber tribal district Iqbal Afridi over allegedly violating the election code of conduct in tribal districts. After the acceptance of KP government plea to delay the elections for few days, the ECP has rescheduled the elections, according to which the polling will be held on July 20.
On general seats, elections will be held on PK-108 Kurram, PK-109 Kurram-Il, PK-110 Orakzai, PK-111 North Waziristan-l, PK-112 North Waziristan-Il, PK-113 South Waziristan-PK-114 South Waziristan-Il, PK-115 Ex-Frontier Regions, PK-100 Bajaur-I, PK-101 Bajaur-Il, PK-102 Bajaur-Ill, PK-103 Mohmand-l, PK-104 Mohmand-ll, PK-105 Khyber PK-106 Khyber-ll, PK-107 Khyber-Ill.